Things

Friday, January 16, 2015

I went to a class taught by Keith Hennessy at the 2015 FRESH Festival. Some of the exercises he had set for us posed the question: What is it that you actually do when you arrange a dance for sharing?

We seem to agree on that the kind of analysis of their work I, and many other choreographers, do during the process would be called dramaturgy if done by another person dedicated to the task.
To me it seems that what dramaturgy means in dance becomes defined by how and what you do. Every discussion predictably arrives at it being a wide concept.

Discussing dance dramaturgy seems to be tied to a certain era of European dance. It has a lot to do with resources: who can afford to have a person dedicated to research and discussion in their project. In terms of the projects produced in that time Keith talked about the desire to produce well researched and thematically focused work that eventually seemed to turn every piece more or less the same.

(To me it may look like that after any trend has reigned enough time in Western dance. And how hard are we / am I attached to the Western demand of continuous renewal, reincarnation, rebirth, recreation, renaissance? More of that some other time.)

So, what would dance dramaturgy mean after that time has passed? What now after a while of messier fleshier dance pieces?

Here is what I want, and need as a choreographer and audience: I am still looking for that connection between what should never have been separated because they are not separate, body and mind. Dance dramaturgy is in a pretty unique position to bring it.

Welcome to my blog!

I make dance performances, and I specifically target subjects that overlap with philosophical queries.

Live art is a meaningful way of researching, challenging, and creating world. We exist as bodily creatures. That is why our interactions in space and time are such an important vehicle of art and research.

On these pages I write my thoughts on choreography. In each project I'm involved in, new aspects of the choreographic process surface.

Organizing these ponderings in blogs will hopefully help me in my work, as well as open new views on the actual performances for the audience members.

Also, I will publish and report on new and past projects.

Photos: Keira Heu-Jwyn Chang

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Minna Harri Experience Set mission statement

Bodie's experience is the basis for Minna Harri's choreographic work.

She is inspired by the ongoing shift of paradigm where scientists and thinkers are starting to understand intellect, emotion, and somatics as inseparable from each other. This has powerful consequences to colonized bodies.

Minna produces work with ensembles under the name Experience Set. This provides opportunities to come together in the creative process and challenges professional performers and creators from different disciplines, cultures and generations.

About Me

I am a choreographer currently based in San Francisco. I have lived in Amsterdam, The Netherlands, and in my native Helsinki, Finland. In addition to studies in ballet, butoh, contemporary techniques, flamenco, tango, and singing, I have studied Performance and Theory in the Finnish Theater Academy. That is a multidisciplinary program that focused on live arts. I am thankful for the guidance by professor Annette Arlander, and Juha-Pekka Hotinen. I finished my studies with a MFA in 2006.
My past projects include choreographies, installations, performances, and essays.

Monday May 9 at University of San Francisco Minna Harri will talk about choreography and her project "Things" specifically. 6.15PM

June 10 & 11: "Like this" an evening of performance curated by Jesse Hewit at Garage, 975 Howard Street San Francisco. 8PM. This evening showcases three performance makers that utilize queer tactics: Maryam Rostami, Peter Max Lawrence and Minna Harri. Part of the National Queer Arts Festival. Minna Harri Experience Set will premiere TOXIC in its entirety. We worked hard since September 2010, don't miss this!

July 14, 15, 16 8PM: Minna Harri Experience Set Residency will culminate in a show @ Garage, 975 Howard Street San Francisco. The much expected next installment of the multi-year Things-project will be premiered. Please be welcome!

Participant in Spring SQUART (March 2010 - part of the winning team, yay!), Pride Squart (June 2010) and Halloween Squart (October 2010) at the Lab in San Francisco, organized by Laura Arrington and The Offcenter.

"Life Sustenance" June 4&5 2010 Subterranean Arthouse. An ensemble piece about the things in life that keep us humans alive.